If there's one adventure that everybody loves, it's a road trip! However, a happy road trip isn't as easy as it sounds. This post has tips to plan a road trip without ending in screaming passengers.

How to Arrive Safely and With Your Sanity

Whether it's a weekend away with your friends at the beach, your family is going on an extended vacation for a couple of months, or you and your partner just want one night away, a road trip is a great idea. Unfortunately, just like all types of vacations, if you don't plan it well then it can quickly turn into a nightmare story that you tell around the campfire. To help you keep your next road trip in good spirits, Synthetic Solutions has a post with planning tips to help.

Let's Make Sure Your Car Is up to the Task, First

Of course, the first thing that you will want to do is to make sure that your vehicle can actually last the distance. For this, it just takes a bit of basic maintenance:

• Your engine's oil level is the most important one to check prior to leaving for a long journey. Simply because if it runs out, your engine stops working. If the oil level is low, top it up! If the oil looks like it's had better days, click here to buy AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil to give it new life.
• Of course, your car runs on many other fluids that all need to be checked. These include your transmission fluid, brake fluid, water or coolant levels, and even your power steering fluid. Check these along with any others listed in your owner's manual and if any of the levels are low, be sure to top them up before you drive.
• Safety is a big concern when it comes to driving, and a road trip makes for the perfect opportunity to give your car a quick safety check up. Look for any frayed seatbelts, broken locking mechanisms, or anything else that has broken or could do with a repair. The rule is - if a safety item in your car isn't working then your car isn't working.
• The condition of your tires is next on the list, and a simple visual inspection is all that is needed. Look for instances where rocks or small road-based debris have caused chunks of your tire to be taken out. These cuts, as small as they are, are one of the most common reasons for a tire blowout. This is especially dangerous when driving along the freeway!
• Continuing on with tires, stop at your closest gas station or garage as you are leaving and check the pressure in your tires. Not only can this greatly affect your handling and driving experience, but it can also reduce friction between your tires and the road, leading to a reduction in your gas consumption.

There are so many fluids that flow through your engine and its parts that it can be tempting to use one for all of them. This is a bad idea and can lead to serious and expensive engine damage. Instead, speak with an expert at Synthetic Solutions by calling (919) 600-2749 and find out which is the right fluid for the job. If you prefer, the online store has plenty of information about how each of the available products can be used to help you decide.

Now It's Time to Get Your Passengers Ready

With your car taken care of, let's pay attention to those inside of it. Here are some great tips to keep your passengers happy and sane:

• Know where you are going by planning out your route. Use this map to determine where and when the best places will be to stop and change drivers or to simply stretch your legs and adjust your line of vision. Remember that the purpose of other drivers in the car is so that one person isn't driving the entire way, so be sure to plan for multiple driver swaps.
• This route will also give you an idea as to how long the first driver needs to drive for. With this in mind, be sure that the first driver either has a full sleep before they drive or, at the least, a power nap to revitalize their brain. Whatever option is chosen, be sure the first and all other drivers are awake and up to the task.
• Don't for a second think that, because you are the driver, you are responsible for passenger comfort. Remind all passengers to bring anything and everything they may need, such as:
  • Food for themselves
  • Food to share
  • Drinks
  • Charging cables
  • Entertainment

The above list mentioned entertainment, and it can be easy to imagine this to be simply downloading movies on Netflix to watch. However, this isn't entirely social. Instead, buy a few cheap and small silly travel games that all passengers (not the driver) can play to keep the mood social and uplifted.

• While they are at it, have everybody in the car prepare a playlist the night before the drive. Use this with the rule that whoever is driving gets to choose the music. This is a great incentive for other passengers to offer to take over the driving just so they can hear their own music.
• A cheeky tip - If you think that you will want a break during your drive, don't be afraid to plan your playlist so that it changes to music nobody else likes when you think you might want a rest. This should get the offers for a driver swap rolling in!

Give Your Car a Synthetic Oil Change in Zebulon

A synthetic oil change for your car is not only easy to perform but it's also an effective way to get the most out of your engine.  Visit the online store to read more about the range of AMSOIL products available, or alternatively speak with an expert at Synthetic Solutions by calling (919) 600-2749 to find out what is the best product for your engine needs